MacRumors

Apple's logo for its upcoming September 9 "Surprise and shine" event hints at two rumored iPhone 18 Pro features, including new color options and a new camera system.

Apple fans often like to read into Apple's event invite graphics for clues about unreleased products, and this year Bloomberg's Mark Gurman is also taking part in the fun on Twitter (X).

First, Gurman says he sees the shining light behind Apple's logo as a nod to the "mechanical aperture on the iPhone 18 Pro Max."

MacRumors has been reporting since 2024 that Apple could introduce a variable aperture camera on the iPhone 18 Pro models – a first for any iPhone. However, a recent rumor out of China suggests the feature could be exclusive to the larger Pro Max model.

With a variable lens, the iPhone 18 Pro Max could allow users to manually shift the aperture, similar to on a DSLR camera. It could mean more control over depth of field and bright light, enabling sharper focus on subjects. That all depends on how Apple implements the feature, of course. It may be more automated than that.

Second, Gurman links the sky blue color of the event invite to a "possible new iPhone 18 Pro color." According to Macworld, Apple will likely introduce the device in Light Blue, alongside Dark Cherry (the new headline color), Dark Gray, and Silver.

It's not like we have much longer to wait to find out whether these takes are correct. Apple's event is less than two weeks away. Stay tuned to MacRumors for all the last-minute details.

Apple today announced a new Apple Education Center in Hanoi to expand training and skill development programs for employees across its supply chain in Vietnam.

The new center is the first of its kind in the country and will begin offering courses this fall, operating in partnership with Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST). Apple and its partners already run almost 20 educational programs for supplier employees in Vietnam.

Courses will combine both online and in-person learning, covering areas including manufacturing, robotics, and automation technology. The center will also offer leadership and soft skills training aimed at helping workers advance in their current roles or move into new career paths.

The new center is the latest initiative funded by Apple's $50 million Supplier Employee Development Fund, a global program the company launched in 2022. Apple said more than 9 million education and training sessions have been delivered via the fund so far, and more than 108,000 supplier employees have taken part in its Swift programming courses since 2017.

The fund also supports workplace rights education and health programs covering broader topics such as health and fitness programming, mental health, and disease screening.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has disputed the authenticity of iPhone Ultra renders shared by the usually reliable leaker Evan Blass on X (Twitter). The images show the unreleased foldable iPhone in not just the rumored space gray and white colors, but also in a striking red.

"Hearing these renders came from Xiaomi," wrote Gurman, commenting on Blass's post. "This isn't a legitimate look at the foldable iPhone, which also doesn't come in red or green. Just renders made by Xiaomi for some reason. Carry on."

Apple is said to be planning to "stay away from fun colors" and stick to more traditional space gray/black and silver/white finishes for the book-style foldable iPhone. One rumor has described the darker color as a shade of indigo rather than black. Another rumor suggests there might not be a black color at all.

We'll know for sure soon. Apple will hold its annual iPhone-centric event on Wednesday, September 9 at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California, where the company is expected to debut the foldable alongside new iPhone 18 Pro models. The event will begin at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. This year, Apple is using the tagline "Surprise and shine" for its fall event.

Apple this week made available the fifth public beta of iOS 27, bringing a more stable version of the software to a wider audience following lengthy testing by developers. Keep reading to learn how to prepare your device for the beta software and how to install it.

Signing up to get the ‌iOS 27 or ‌iPadOS 27 public beta is simple once you know how – it can be done by enrolling an iPhone or iPad in Apple's free Apple Beta Software Program. The steps you need to complete to install the software on your device are provided towards the end of this article, but before you jump ahead, here are a few things worth considering.

Is My iPhone Compatible With iOS 27?

iOS 27 is supported on iPhone 11 and all of the same iPhone models as iOS 26. They include the following:

Is My iPad Compatible With iOS 27?

iPadOS 27 cuts support for more iPad models than last year's iPadOS 26 did, with older iPad Pro, iPad Air, ‌iPad‌, and iPad mini models all losing compatibility. iPadOS 27 is supported on the following iPad models:

Note that this compatibility list does not mean that all iOS 27/iPadOS 27 features will work with the above models. Several of the update's features are exclusive to iPhone 15 Pro and newer models, since they rely on Apple Intelligence.

For example, iOS 27's more intelligent and personal version of Siri is available on the iPhone 15 Pro and newer, while two specific features tied to it are exclusive to the iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air.

Should I Install iOS 27 Public Beta?

Great question! Before downloading the update, it's worth noting that Apple does not recommend installing iOS 27 beta updates on your main iPhone/iPad, so if you have a secondary device, use that. This is beta software, which means there are often bugs and issues that pop up that can prevent software from working properly or cause other problems. Apple still has fixes to make before the final release in September.

Make an Archived Backup of Your Device First

Before installing the beta, make sure to back up your iOS device before installing the software using the following method, otherwise you won't be able to revert back to iOS 26 if things go wrong.

1. Plug your iPhone into your Mac using the supplied cable.
2. Allow the accessory to connect by clicking Allow in the dialog prompt.
3. Open a Finder window by clicking the Finder icon in the Dock.
4. Click your iOS device's name in the sidebar.
   
   
5. If this is the first time connecting your device to your Mac, click Trust in the Finder window.
   
   
6. Tap Trust on your device when prompted, then enter your passcode to confirm.
7. In the General tab, click the circle next to where it says Back up all of the data on your iPad to this Mac.
8. If you want to encrypt the backup, check the box next to Encrypt local backup, then enter a password to protect your data.
9. If you don't want to create an encrypted backup, or you've already set up encrypted backups, click Back Up Now.
   
   

When the backup is finished, you can find the date and time of the last backup in the General tab, just above the Manage Backups button. Remember that this backup will not be overwritten when you manually or automatically back up your iPhone in the future, so you can restore it at any time by using the Restore Backup... option in the same Finder screen.

How to Download iOS 27 Public Beta

Downloading and install the iOS 27 Public Beta is very straightforward. Simply follow these steps:

1. Head over to Apple's Beta Software Program website and sign up using your Apple Account credentials.
   
   
2. Now go to Settings ➝ General ➝ Software Update on your iPhone.
3. Tap Beta Updates. If you don't see the option, try switching off Download iOS Updates (Automatic Updates ➝ Download iOS Updates), then tap Back and it should appear.
4. Select iOS 27 Public Beta in the list, then tap Back.
5. Wait for the Software Update screen to check Apple's servers. When the iOS 27 Public Beta appears, tap Download and Install, then follow the instructions and wait for installation to complete.

iOS 27 Features

iOS 27's headline change is a more intelligent and personal version of Siri, but the update also brings a wider set of improvements across Apple's core apps and services. A new Siri mode in the Camera app works with Visual Intelligence, which lets you point their iPhone at real-world items like receipts and take useful actions directly from what's on the screen.

Apple Maps gains an enhanced Flyover experience powered by AI, with sharper and more lifelike aerial imagery for select cities. In the U.S., a new Local Lists feature surfaces relevant place collections, including trending restaurants and family-friendly destinations.

Find My adds more flexible location sharing controls. You can now share your location for a custom duration, set an exact time for sharing to expire, or pause sharing with specific people until the End of the day. Reminders and Calendar now also support natural language input, and Apple Intelligence will automatically fill in details such as the date, time, and location.

Wallet, Apple Cash, and Apple Pay also get major upgrades. iOS 27 adds Apple Intelligence-powered bill splitting with Apple Cash, custom Wallet passes created from physical cards, richer hotel key experiences, and a redesigned Apple Pay checkout flow with easier card switching and more payment details. Tap to Pay on iPhone also gains Tap to Share, letting customers securely share contact, shipping, and Loyalty information with participating merchants.

Apple's media and cloud apps get updates too. Apple Podcasts adds Search within individual shows, iCloud Shared Albums support full-resolution cross-platform sharing and more file types, and Apple Music improves AutoMix while expanding Lyrics Translation to more Language pairings.

• How to Downgrade From iOS 27 Beta to iOS 26

For the full list of iOS 27 features, check out Apple's press release.

Apple today announced it will hold its annual iPhone-centric event on Wednesday, September 9 at 10 a.m. Pacific Time. In the U.S. and several other countries, Apple used "Surprise and Shine" as its tagline for the event, but in other countries, the tagline isn't a literal translation.

Here are the different taglines Apple is using on its regional websites.

• U.S., UK, NZ, Australia, Ireland, India, Canada - Surprise and Shine.
• Canada, French - Des surprises dans l'air, or surprises in the air.
• Brazil - Surpreendente e brilhante, or surprising and brilliant.
• Mexico and Latin America - Sorpresas listas para brillar, which means surprises ready to shine.
• Germany, Austria, Switzerland - Staunen und strahlen, or something like wonder/amazement and radiate/shine.
• Spain - Un rayo de wow, which means a ray of wow or a flash of wow.
• France, Belgium - Un jour nouveau. Bientôt. The French phrase is a little different, translating to a new day, soon.
• Italy - L'alba di nuove sorprese, or the dawn of new surprises.
• Denmark - Det bliver solstrålende, or something like it's going to be brilliant/sunny. Solstrålende merges two words that mean sunbeam and brilliant.
• Norway - Tid for gode overraskelser, time for good surprises.
• Sweden - Förväntan. Förundran. Anticipation and wonder.
• Finland - Uudenkoitto, which translates to a new dawn or a new beginning.
• Poland - Zdumienia i olśnienia, which is surprise and amazement, or astonishment and revelation.
• Hungary - Ragyogó meglepetés, radiant/brilliant surprise.
• Portugal - O despontar de surpresas brilhantes, which translates to the dawn of brilliant surprises. Despontar is a word used for daybreak or sunrise, though Apple's Translate app says the phrase means "the unfolding of brilliant surprises."
• Turkey - Işıltılı. Şaşırtıcı. Heyecanlı or dazzling/sparkling, surprising, exciting.
• The Netherlands - Surprise party. Apple left this one in English.
• Czechia - Čas těšení, or time of anticipation.
• UAE, Saudi Arabia - بدايات تسطع بالمفاجآت, which means beginnings that shine with surprises.
• China - 亮新篇，来耀眼, which roughly means a bright new chapter, prepare to be dazzled. The 篇 character can also mean page of a book, which is perhaps an interesting nod to a foldable device.
• Hong Kong - 耀目驚喜，亮起新一章, translates to a dazzling surprise, lighting up a new chapter. It uses a different character for chapter and more clearly says surprise.
• Taiwan - 驚喜耀現，開新篇, meaning something like a dazzling surprise opens a new chapter.
• South Korea - 깜짝 빛날 시간, which translates to something like time to shine with a surprise. 깜짝 is surprise, 빛날 is shine, and 시간 is time.

The different taglines make it clear Apple lets its regional teams write their own content instead of using the same translation worldwide. Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China all use the chapter concept, which is absent from the rest of the world. Many of the European translations use a new beginning or a new dawn, along with the same shining or radiant word in the U.S. version. A new beginning is similar to a new chapter, so the Chinese taglines are probably using that context rather than a book-like chapter context, but there may also be an intentional dual meaning there.

For all of the translations to English, there are multiple interpretations because there are characters or words with multiple meanings in English, or phrases that don't translate, but most have the same general meaning as Surprise and Shine.

Some regional Apple pages haven't been updated with the event info yet, including Japan, Korea, Brazil, Mexico, Thailand, and Vietnam.

We're expecting Apple to introduce the iPhone 18 Pro, the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max, and the first foldable iPhone at its September 9 event.

Astropad today launched Rock Paper Pencil 4.0, an updated version of its screen protector and Apple Pencil tip combo made for the iPad.

Rock Paper Pencil offers a paper-like writing experience on a tablet display by pairing a paper-textured screen protector with custom tips for the ‌Apple Pencil‌. The new version of the product comes with two ‌Apple Pencil‌ tips, one with a smooth ballpoint feel and one that mimics a soft graphite pencil. Two of each tip come in the kit for four total.

Astropad says the new graphite tip is meant to feel just like a 2B pencil with a "soft, toothy drag" that's ideal for sketching or shading. It even has the sound of a pencil on paper. The ballpoint tip is meant to feel like a smooth gel pen, and it's suited to writing and linework.

The reusable screen protector remains the same as before, and users can put it on when writing or drawing on the ‌iPad‌ and take it off for other activities like gaming. It uses Astropad's NanoCling technology to attach, and it leaves no residue on the ‌iPad‌'s display because it doesn't use adhesive. The paper-like feel of the screen protector comes from a microscopic texture that adds a small amount of friction to improve control. When not in use, the screen protector can be kept in an included protective storage sleeve.

Rock Paper Pencil is compatible with most iPads, with a list available on the website. The tips work with all ‌Apple Pencil‌ models, including the ‌Apple Pencil‌ Pro.

Rock Paper Pencil 4.0 can be purchased from the Astropad website for $49.99. Astropad is also running a "Peel It Off" promo that offers $20 to people who switch to Rock Paper Pencil and share the removal of their old screen protector on social media.

Meta today said it will implement major changes to Facebook and Instagram's child safety features as part of a settlement agreement with almost all U.S. states.

Here's what will change for users under 18 on Instagram and Facebook if the agreement is approved.

• Time Limit - Teens will have a two-hour daily time limit on Facebook and Instagram, though it can be overridden by a parent. The two-hour total includes both apps.
• Night Mode - Users will be blocked from posting and viewing content between midnight and 6 a.m.
• School Mode - Notifications are muted between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.
• Prompts - The apps will send prompts after every 15 minutes of continuous screen time. There will also be prompts when daily usage hits 60 minutes and 90 minutes.
• Feed Control - Teens can choose a non-algorithmic feed that does not include personalization through the Instagram and Facebook recommendation systems. Parents will be able to require this setting.
• Autoplay Control - Teens will be able to turn off autoplay. Parents can require this setting.
• Hidden Likes - Teens won't see the likes and reactions on a post by default.
• Filters - Cosmetic surgery and extreme makeup filters won't be accessible to teens.
• Age Assurance - ‌Meta‌ plans to strengthen tools it uses to catch accounts belonging to users under 13, as well as accounts used by teens aged 13 to 17 to make sure the accounts have "experiences designed for teens."
• Parental Controls - ‌Meta‌ will add new controls for parents, notifying them if a teen links a second account or interacts with suspicious accounts. Parents will also get periodic updates on teen usage.
• Direct Messages - Direct messages are exempt from Time Limit, Night Mode, and School Mode.

‌Meta‌ will also pay approximately $18 billion to states to fund online youth safety initiatives, which is far less than its 2025 net income of $60.5 billion. The payment will be spread over a 10-year period, and ‌Meta‌ is withholding $5.3 billion unless TikTok and YouTube implement similar measures. If they do, ‌Meta‌ says it will lower daily usage limits from two cumulative hours across both apps to one hour for each app and expand ‌Night Mode‌ to run from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.

‌Meta‌ wants YouTube and TikTok to add a one-hour daily limit, night mode, and age assurance measures, as well as pay $5.3 billion each to match ‌Meta‌'s withheld $5.3 billion. ‌Meta‌ posted an open letter calling on TikTok and YouTube to implement the same measures. Teens with restrictions on Instagram and Facebook could instead just move over to TikTok and YouTube, and ‌Meta‌ likely doesn't want to be the only company losing out on revenue.

‌Meta‌ has been in a federal trial over the lawsuit, and had it continued, it could have been forced to pay more. California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey were seeking closer to $200 billion in civil penalties, according to Reuters. The settlement came before ‌Meta‌ CEO Mark Zuckerberg was set to testify, but Florida declined to settle and will continue litigation. New Mexico was also uninvolved because it won its own case against ‌Meta‌ earlier this year.

The Messages app is arguably the most important app on the iPhone, and in iOS 27, Apple is adding some useful improvements. There are some quality-of-life fixes for longtime issues, and new AI features.

Contextual Suggestions

Messages uses Apple Intelligence to surface one-tap suggestions based on what's being discussed in a conversation. If someone you're talking to asks you to send a photo, Messages recognizes the request and suggests adding the relevant photos.

If someone invites you to an event, Messages offers to add it to your Calendar. If someone asks you to pick something up at the store, Messages will suggest adding it to your Reminders list or to the Notes app.

Messages will also suggest Genmoji you might want to generate based on the conversation.

Write With Siri

There's a systemwide Write with Siri feature that's available in the Messages app. ‌Siri‌ AI can compose entire messages for you, proofread your messages, or give you feedback.

There is a dedicated Write with ‌Siri‌ button above the keyboard where you can get to the new ‌Siri‌ tools.

Smart Reply suggestions also use your writing style so they sound more natural.

Siri AI

‌Siri‌ AI integrates with the Messages app. You can ask ‌Siri‌ to find images, videos, links, addresses, phone numbers, and more in the Messages app, plus ‌Siri‌ can draft message replies and act on info in the Messages app, like adding an event date to the Calendar app.

Drawing

You can use a new Drawing interface in the Messages app to send little sketches and notes. It's available when tapping on the "+" button next to the text bar in a conversation.

The drawing interface is the same as the Markup tool available in apps like Photos and Notes. There's a marker, a pen, a highlighter, and an eraser, plus options to use the tools in any color.

Accidental Recordings

The ‌iOS 27‌ Messages app includes an option to remove the audio button from the text bar. In the Messages section of the Settings app, you can navigate to Show in Text Field to set the right-side button to Record Audio, Start Dictation, or None.

Setting the option to none will prevent you from accidentally recording a voice message with an errant tap.

Tapbacks

Messages now consolidates notifications for Tapback responses, which is useful when you're in a group thread and tons of people are sending emojis.

Sending

When a message fails to send in ‌iOS 27‌, your iPhone will automatically retry sending it. In iOS 26, you get an alert if a message fails, but you have to manually tap to try to send it again.

The Messages app also supports continuous sending of photos, videos, and texts. If you're sending someone a photo and your connection is poor or you go offline, it automatically resumes sending when the connection is restored.

Syncing

Cross-device syncing is improved in ‌iOS 27‌, so conversations will sync more reliably across the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Vision Pro. Fewer messages will fail to sync and display properly when you switch between devices.

Messages, read states, reactions, and attachments sync faster.

When you take a photo and then go to the Messages app to send it, you're more likely to see it right away. Apple says the iPhone is faster to add recent camera captures to Messages.

Search

Apple improved its search index across apps like Mail and Messages, so you're more likely to find what you're looking for.

You can also search for conversations in Messages using a phone number or a contact's nickname.

Offloaded Media

If you have photos or videos that have been offloaded to save storage space, you can still find them in the ‌iOS 27‌ Messages app when you search.

Thumbnails are also displayed for offloaded media instead of a placeholder image, so you know what's there.

RCS

In RCS message conversations with Android users, you can now long press on a message to send an inline reply. ‌iOS 27‌ also shows reaction emoji directly on images and videos, a feature that was not functioning in ‌iOS 26‌.

Genmoji

Apple revamped ‌Genmoji‌ creation in ‌iOS 27‌. There's an updated interface for describing an emoji that you want, with options to start from an existing emoji, choose an image from ‌Photos‌, or select a person.

After uploading an image or using a text phrase to create a ‌‌Genmoji‌‌, there's a new "Describe a change" interface for making updates to what you've already created. You can iterate on designs and change individual elements of a ‌‌Genmoji‌‌, tweaking colors and objects. Each change uses the old base instead of regenerating a new ‌‌Genmoji‌‌.

With a series of requests, it is possible to make a complicated, multi-element ‌‌Genmoji‌‌. Along with describing changes, you can add in additional emoji, and the interface makes suggestions on what to do next.

‌‌Genmoji‌‌ output is more consistent, and ‌‌Genmoji‌‌ look more like real emoji with a 3D, cartoonish style by default. There is now an option to change style, so if you don't want the cartoonish look, you can ask for something else like a drawing or a sketch.

Large Conversations

Large conversations load and scroll faster in ‌iOS 27‌, according to Apple.

Read More

More on all of the features in ‌iOS 27‌ can be found in our iOS 27 guide.

Following this morning's announcement of the iPhone event that will take place on September 9, Apple added an event placeholder to its YouTube channel.

Apple will stream the "Surprise and Shine" event on YouTube, on the Apple Events website, and in the Apple TV app wherever it is available.

YouTube users can click on the video placeholder and choose the "Notify me" option to get a notification when the livestream is up. Apple also added an event countdown.

If YouTube has your location information, the notification and countdown will be displayed in your local time, so it's a good way to double-check when you will need to tune in to watch the event.

Apple's event will start at 10 a.m. Pacific Time, which is 1 p.m. Eastern Time, 6 p.m. British Summer Time, 7 p.m. Central European Summer Time, and 10:30 p.m. India Standard Time, 1 a.m. China Standard Time (Thursday, September 10), 1 a.m. Australian Western Standard Time, 3 a.m. Australian Eastern Standard Time, and 5 a.m. in New Zealand Standard Time.

You're also able to add the event to your calendar using the Apple Events website.

For those who are unable to watch the livestream on September 9, MacRumors will have full event coverage on MacRumors.com and the MacRumorsLive X (formerly Twitter) account so you can follow along with the announcements.

If you dial Apple Support's phone number 1-800-APL-CARE from the U.S. or Canada, there is a good chance that an AI-powered support assistant will now answer.

While many of Apple's phone systems already had a basic automated operator, the Apple Support phone line is now using a voice powered by generative AI. The assistant can answer questions and troubleshoot issues with your Apple products, with it able to provide detailed step-by-step instructions. The assistant can still transfer you to a human advisor if it cannot answer a specific question, or if you ask to speak to a real person.

An anonymous tipster claimed that Apple has partnered with Sierra AI on the virtual assistant, but we have not independently confirmed this information.

A concern is that Apple's increasing use of AI for customer service may result in a reduction in human advisors, through fewer job listings and/or layoffs.

It appears that the AI assistant for Apple Support phone calls went live earlier this year. Apple has also been testing a new AI-powered chatbot in its Apple Support app, through a new "Ask" tab that has rolled out to a limited number of users.

Images claiming to show the inside of an Apple-made AI server, believed to power Private Cloud Compute, surfaced online this week, offering a first look at how the hardware is laid out.

The images were shared earlier this week by the X user @hsuchingpo, an account with a track record of Apple hardware and prototype leaks. Captioned simply "Apple M5 Server," the leaker said the hardware is "most likely" Apple's Private Cloud Compute (PCC) system. Private Cloud Compute is Apple's system for offloading demanding Apple Intelligence requests from a device to the cloud while keeping user data from being stored or shared.

The images show a rack mountable chassis packed with compute modules. Each one has a separate circuit board mounted on a carrier bar and secured with blue and red ejector latches for quick removal. The boards connect into a backplane through gold edge connectors, with heatsinks running through the center of each column and a service diagram taped inside the lid mapping out numbered board positions and Apple part numbers.

Each single chassis holds up to 32 boards. The layout appears to be built around airflow, with heatsinks running down the center and fans at both ends.

One close-up image shows a board with its thermal paste wiped away, revealing an Apple logo printed directly onto a chip package, appearing to confirm the hardware uses Apple's own silicon. Two NAND flash chips sit nearby.

The leaker added that the server cannot manage its own workload independently. In replies, they explained that the hardware "requires use in conjunction with Mac Studio (serves the function of software control)" and apart from Apple, no one can activate it, since doing so needs both a physical control machine and a control account.

Apple produces AI servers domestically at a facility in Houston, Texas, as part of a $600 billion U.S. investment commitment.

Apple plans to hold its annual iPhone-centric event on Wednesday, September 9 at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California. The event will begin at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, with select members of the media invited to attend.

The September 2026 iPhone event will see Apple announce the iPhone 18 Pro, the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max, and the foldable iPhone, which could be called the iPhone Ultra. There won't be an iPhone 18 this year because Apple is waiting until spring 2027 to launch the more affordable models.

All three new iPhones will use Apple's latest A20 Pro chip built on a 2nm process for speed and efficiency improvements. The ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ models could get an upgraded variable aperture rear camera, but will otherwise be similar to the iPhone 17 Pro models. We are expecting price increases due to ongoing memory shortages.

The foldable iPhone will be Apple's first new form factor since the launch of the 2017 iPhone X. It will have a book-like design, and it will be around 5.5 inches when closed and 7.6 inches when open. It is wider than it is tall, and will be similar to using an iPad when unfolded. Since the foldable iPhone is so thin, there are compromises, and it will use Touch ID instead of Face ID and it won't have a telephoto camera.

Apple is also going to introduce the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4, plus there's a possibility we'll see new smart home devices, including the long-rumored home hub, a new Apple TV 4K, and an updated HomePod mini.

Along with new hardware, Apple will give us launch dates for iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS Golden Gate, and other upcoming software updates.

Apple plans to stream the fall event live on its website, on YouTube, and through the ‌Apple TV‌ app. For those unable to watch, MacRumors will be providing full event coverage on MacRumors.com and the MacRumorsLive Twitter account.

The iPhone 17 retained its position as the world's best selling smartphone in the second quarter of 2026, according to Counterpoint Research, with the iPhone 17 Pro Max and ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ holding the next two spots on the firm's quarterly ranking.

Data from Counterpoint's Global Handset Model Sales Tracker places the standard ‌iPhone 17‌ at 6% of global smartphone unit sales for the second quarter, building on the top spot it already held in the first quarter. Apple and Samsung filled all ten of the top spots, with a combined 26% share of worldwide unit sales that was two points higher than a year earlier.

Counterpoint tied the growth to regional strength outside Apple's usual core markets, with gains in India, Japan, and the Middle East and Africa, plus a near doubling of sales in South Korea.

The base iPhone 17 model remained the best selling smartphone during the quarter, supported by significant upgrades that narrowed the gap with the Pro models. Meanwhile, strong premium demand drove the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max sales, aided by trade in programs, promotions, and accessible financing options that improved affordability.

Rising smartphone prices across the industry also nudged buyers toward more expensive pricing tiers generally, which largely worked in Apple's favor given its lineup skews upmarket already.

The iPhone 17e took seventh place following its refresh that added MagSafe and increased storage for the same price, boosted by compelling carrier deals in the U.S. and Japan. The iPhone 16 rounded out the list at number ten, leaving Apple with five of the ten slots, which is the same count and nearly the same positions Apple held a year earlier with the ‌iPhone 16‌ lineup and iPhone 15.

Samsung's best performer was the Galaxy S26 Ultra in fourth place, which is the first time that Samsung's top tier device has outsold every other Android phone in the second quarter. This is said to partly be a reflection of Samsung steering more marketing spend toward its flagship models to protect margins as costs climb. Samsung's cheaper Galaxy A phones also remained competitive further down the market.

Overall, the smartphone market shrank 11% in the quarter, a contraction Counterpoint links to the ongoing shortages and price rises that has manufacturers concentrating resources on their most profitable phones. Apple and Samsung both grew unit sales against that backdrop, a divergence that is visible in Counterpoint's regional data as well.

For anyone who's experienced the lengthy post-update indexing process when trialing the beta version of iOS 27, macOS 27 Golden Gate, iPadOS 27, or visionOS 27: Apple has published a Spotlight support document that explains what's going on.

Apple says indexing can take hours or even days depending on how much data you have stored. It completes more quickly when your device is not in use, and when it is connected to power and the internet. Apple also confirms that the index is stored locally, remains private, and is not shared with Apple or any of your other devices.

Starting today, Virginia residents can add a digital version of their driver's license to the Apple Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch. The digital ID can be used to display proof of identity or age at TSA checkpoints in select airports, at select businesses, and in select apps, but the number of places where it is accepted is still quite limited.

Virginia is the 15th state to implement support for Apple Wallet IDs in the U.S., joining Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, and West Virginia. The feature is also available in Puerto Rico, and it works with Japan's My Number Card.

Apple has been preparing for the feature to go live in North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Utah in the coming months, and years ago it announced that Connecticut, Kentucky, and Mississippi were committed to launching the feature at some point.

To set up the feature, open the Wallet app on the iPhone and tap on the plus sign in the top-right corner. Next, tap on Driver's License and ID Cards, select Virginia from the list, and follow the on-screen steps to complete the process. Then, you can present your digital ID where it is accepted without handing over your device.

You can present an Apple Wallet ID where accepted by simply tapping your iPhone or Apple Watch on an identity reader. Then, you will be able to view the specific information being requested by the TSA or business. Only after authorizing with Face ID or Touch ID is the requested identity information released from your device.

As mentioned, you do not need to unlock, show, or hand over your device to present an Apple Wallet ID in person, ensuring user privacy.

Apple Wallet IDs are generally not accepted by law enforcement, so carrying a physical ID is still legally required for traffic stops. In addition, the number of businesses that accept Apple Wallet IDs is still quite small. At least for now, Apple Wallet IDs are designed to be a convenient alternative where they are accepted.

Apple Wallet IDs are accepted at TSA checkpoints in more than 250 airports across the U.S. for domestic travel, according to Apple.

Apple yesterday announced the new Mac mini and Mac Studio, and pre-orders have begun on each device ahead of their September 22 launch date. We aren't currently tracking any straight cash discounts on pre-orders, but Best Buy is offering some money back in the form of Best Buy rewards when ordering.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Specifically, My Best Buy Plus and Total members will get 2% back in the form of Best Buy rewards with the pre-order of a new Mac mini or Mac Studio. This offers runs through September 22 and is available to new and existing My Best Buy Plus and My Best Buy Total members, which starts at $29.99/year.

You can find out more about everything Apple announced yesterday in our dedicated post. This also includes the new polishing cloth and a few updates to the Magic Keyboards.

Mac mini

• M6 16GB/256GB - $899.00
• M6 16GB/512GB - $1,099.00
• M6 24GB/512GB - $1,299.00
• M5 Pro 24GB/512GB - $1,699.00

Mac Studio

• M5 Max 36GB/512GB - $2,499.00
• M5 Ultra 96GB/1TB - $5,499.00

If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

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Apple's new Mac mini and Mac Studio feature genlock support over USB-C, allowing users to precisely synchronize a display with a camera such as the iPhone 17 Pro, without the need for additional equipment.

It keeps multiple cameras and displays locked to the same timing signal, stopping footage from drifting out of sync during a multi-camera shoot.